Sheet increment sign assembly



Sept. 29, 1964 D. L. INDORF SHEET INCREMENT SIGN ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1961 United States Patent Filed Feb. 27,, liiLSer. No. 91,895 2 il aimsi i- 1 This invention relates to signboard assemblies and it relates more particularly to what is .known as sheet increment highway signs.

The need for large-highway signs forcontrolling traffic onmodern .superhighways .has given rise to many design problems in such signs bothin ,the strength of the sign itselfor support therefor andin the fabrication, assembly and maintenance of thesignboard. Most, if not all, large-highway signs are'nowconstructed of aluminum because, among other things, ofits strength,.light weight and resistance tothe elements. :Large signsare generally formed of a plurality of substantially flat sections fastened together in various ways to form a broad face on whichthe lettering andotherindicia appear. In one of .the most Widely used types of sign constructions, the

sections are madeup of extruded panels, which are channel-shape incross-section with the .web of .the channel forming the front ,panel. Extruded panel signs of this type have certain advantages in that they are somewhat more easily fabricated, assembled and maintained as compared with the so-called sheet increment type of sign wherein thepanels are made-0f relatively thin sheet metal reinforced by a framework of structural members.

The-extruded panel sign, however, has a serious disadvantage in that the individual ,panels are narrow? twelve inchesv presently being the widest panel available- ,and this makes 'for alarge number of visible seams or joints between thepanels. Furthermore, parallel score linesextending lengthwise -o f the -panels frequently occur in.the face of the panel, because ,of slight irregularities in the extruding die used inthe manufacture thereof. Be-

tween the extrusion lines of panel seams, .an extruded panelsignmay, under certain light conditions frequently encountered on the highway, produce a ripple effect .across the whole' front of the's ign, which is undesirable and has-in fact.r esultedinbanningof this type of-sign in certain areas.

Sheet incrementsigns do not have this undesirable surfaceeffect because the sheet metalused for-the face of the signisalmostperfectly smoothand the sheetscan be made widerso that the seams between panels do not occur as frequently as in the extruded panel design. On the other hand, sheet increment signs designed heretofore have been difiicult to assemble and/or to fabricate prior .to assembly, and have required custom fabrication for each-size and shape of sign to be usedon a particular high- -way project. Since there, are frequently hundreds of differentsizes andshapes ofsignsfor each project, just the amount of drafting board work which is required before the panelsfor the-signs can be fabricatedis astonishing.

.Then,.once thepanels are fabricated, .assembly ofsigns .of the sheet increment type heretofore employed has not lent itselfto large-scale production. This-is due in part to the fact that in none of the sheet increment designs presentlyavailableare the panels interchangeablewithin each sign. Insome designs, moreovensecuring bolts extendthrough thepanel and mayinterfere with the placement of the indicia on'the, face of the sign.

It is commonpractice'for thecomponents ofsuch signs ;to be fabricated by themanufacturer and for local or sign constructions, especially of jecting beyond the edge of 3,l5,4l55 ?etenteci Sept. 29, 1964 sheet increment signs are called for in a highway specification, it has been necessary heretofore for the contractor to special order all of the panels required for the various signs to be erected on each job, and for the manufacturer to fabricate these panels after the order is placed. This situation of course is highly inefficient and time consuming and is a serious disadvantage of previous sheet increment designs.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to design a sheet increment sign which is free of the disadvantages heretofore present in this type of sign construction and to provide a sign of the sheet increment type which. has all the advantages of the extruded panel type of signboard but is free of the undesirable and often unsatisfactory appearance of signs of the extruded panel construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet increment signboard design, which is adaptable to largescale production methods by simplifying the design and assembly of the sign, by eliminating the necessity for precise placement of the supporting framework on the panels, by making it possible to stock standard parts by minimizing the number of fixtures required, and by facilitating the application of the luminescent'background finish on the face of the panels. A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an interlock between adjacent edges of the panels of a sheet increment sign for lining up the abutting edges and maintaining them in edge-to-edge alignment in order to make the seams between panels as inconspicuous as possible. in accomplishing this, it is also desired to permit individual panels at any point in the sign to be removed and replaced without disturbing adjacent panels.

With these objects in mind, a sheet increment sign assembly embodying the invention comprises in general a signboard made up of a plurality of panels abutted edge to edge, each panel being reinforced'by one or more ribs fixed on the rear side thereof intermediate and parallel to the abutting edges of the panel, and extending along a'major portion of the length of the panel. While the outer edges of the two end panels of the signbqard of course do not abut with an adiacent panel, the term abutting-edge as used in'the present specification and claims means an edge, usually the longer of each individual panel, which maybe-placed in abutment with a corresponding edge of another panel inthe sign. The af inentioned ribs on each panel not only strengthen the panels, but also provide means for receiving a fastener by which the panels are rigidly secured to one or more stringer members extending across the back edges of the ribs. Since it is imperative that the abutting edges of the panels lie flush with each other in order to hide the seam between panels as much aspossible, means are provided for locking the edges of the panels together so that opposite edges or sections of the edges of the panels along each seam can not bend out of registry with each other.

Such edge aligning or seam-locking means in prior the sheet increment type, have not been entirely satisfactory for several reasons.

For one thing, the seam-locking means usually makes it impossible to remove a central panel from a sign consisting of three or more panels without dismantling the adjacent panels from the sign, because the'seam-locking means consists of permanently interlocking elements prothe panel which interfere with the removal of adjacent panels, onefrom the other. Furthermore, such interlocking elements must match properly, so that in those arrangements the panels can not be turned end for end, as is sometimes desirable, particularly with panels as wide as 36 inches or more, in .order to match variations in the color of the reflective material commonly used for the background finish on highway signs.

In seam-locking means according to the present invention, either abutting edge of each panel can be mated with either of the abutting edges of another panel, thereby making it possible to improve the appearance of the sign by matching the colors of the finish on tl e front of the panels. Furthermore, even if it is not necessary to match the finish of the panels, interchangeability of the abutting edges of the panels greatly facilitates assembly of the signs because both sides of each panel are identical, and the panels therefore do not need to be turned end-for-end in order to match the sides. This is a great convenience in storing and handling components for sign assemblies.

The seam-locking means of the present invention includes provision of seam-locking members on the rear side of each panel adjacent the abutting edges thereof but not projecting beyond the edge of the panel. Each of the seam-locking members has a rearwardly projecting retainer portion which forms a recess receiving a portion of an elongated locking element that is slidable in the recess longitudinally of the seam between the panels so that it can be readily removed in order to unlock the panels from each other. This locking element fits closely within corresponding recesses in the seam-locking members on both panels so that said recesses and locking element cooperate to lock the abutting edges of adjacent panels flush with each other thereby making the seam as inconspicuous as possible.

In order that the invention will be more clearly understood, a specific embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings which are illustrative only, it being contemplated that various changes may be made which will fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a sheet increment sign constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a somewhat enlarged scale of a portion of the upper end of the sign shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail View of a portion of the sign taken in horizontal section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4- of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking bar by itself.

Referring to the drawings, the indicia bearing display surface of the sign is provided on the front side of a signboard 11), which is made up of several sheet-metal panels 12 reinforced on the back by vertical ribs 14. Ribs 14 are channel members which are generally rectangular in cross-section and are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to panels 12 at horizontally spaced intervals across the back of each panel. In this instance, ribs 14 are provided with inwardly directed pairs of flanges 15 and 15 which form between them a socket 16 running the length of the rib for a purpose which will be apparent hereinafter. An elongated opening 16' between the facing edges of the outer flanges 15 extends the full length of rib 14. The wall 17 opposite opening 16' of rib 14 may be spot welded to the back side of panel 12 in order to secure the rib rigidly to the panel without defacing the front surface thereof. Transverse stringers 18 are fastened across the rearmost or open side of ribs 14 in order to strengthen panels 12 horizontally and also to provide means by which to readily mount the signboard 19 on supporting posts 19 which are permanently embedded in the ground. Posts 19 are in this instance standard steel I-beams, but may be any suitable type of support post, such as tapered metal poles and the like.

One of the objects of the present construction is to use standard material and hardware, which is readily available and does not need to be specially ordered or fabricated for each different sign. To this end stringers 18, which run horizontally across the backs of ribs 14,

are most desirably formed from metal Z-bars, so-called because of their Z-shape cross-section. Such shapes are commonly used in highway sign structures because they provide ready means by which to secure the panels together into a rigid unit and at the same time to mount such unit on supporting members, such as posts 19.

In addition to strengthening panels 12 vertically, ribs 14 also provide convenient means by which stringers 18 may be fastened to panels 12 without defacing the display surface of the sign with bolt heads or the like on the front side of the signboard 10. Thus, clamping members 20 are used to secure stringers 18 at various points along their lengths to ribs 14. Commercially available post clips are well suited for use as clamps 20, such post clips consisting, as shown especially well in FIG. 4, of an outwardly bowed member 22 having a bolt 24 extending through the central portion thereof. The head 26 of bolt 24 is received within socket 16 of rib 14 and is held therein by the inturned flanges 15, 15 of the rib, the head 26 desirably being large enough so that it engages the inner side walls of socket 16 in rib 14 and is thereby prevented from rotating within rib 14. While the inner flanges 15 of ribs 14 are not essential, they facilitate installation of clamps 20 by preventing bolt 24 from moving completely within the channel of ribs 14 while the member 22 of clamp 20 is being placed on the free end of the bolt. It will be understood, of course, that where the inner flanges 15' of ribs 14 are eliminated, the depth of ribs 14 could be reduced so that the tops of bolt heads 26 engage the wall 17 thereby accomplishing the purpose for which flanges 15 are intended. However, since the gauge of the sheet-metal panels 12 can be reduced substantially by using the stronger ribs 14 shown in the drawings, this shape has been found to be more practical.

One end of each clamp 20 bears against the rear side of a rib 14 and has a guide portion 30 which fits between flanges 15 in order to prevent the clamp from rotating out of position. The other end of clamp 20 grips the outer side of a flange 32 of stringer 18. It will be apparent that when nut 34 of clamping bolt 24 is tightened, the lower end of clamp 21) presses flange 32 rigidly against the rear side of rib 14 securely clamping the stringer 18 thereto.

In attaching clamps 20, the heads 26 of bolts 24 are inserted from the open ends of the desired ribs 14 within socket is of each rib with the shank of the bolt extending outwardly between flanges 15. Stringers 18 can therefore be located at any desired position vertically of the sign. Furthermore, any desired number of stringers can be used depending on the height of the sign and the support needed. In order to provide adequate support for each panel 12, clamps 20 are desirably installed wherever stringers 18 cross a rib 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Sheet-metal panels 12, ribs 14 and stringers 18 are preferably made of aluminum in order to reduce weight and wear due to corrosion and rust, and the ribs and stringers are conveniently fabricated from extruded aluminum stock.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the means for locking the seams between panels 12 consists in this instance of a metal seam-locking strip 36 extending along each of the vertical or abutting edges of panels 12. Each seam-locking strip 36 is shaped with a reverse bend extending longitudinally of the strip to form a base portion 33 and, off-set laterally therefrom, a retaining portion 40. The base portion 38 of each seamlocking strip is fastened to the rear of a panel 12 by resistance or spot welds with the retaining portion 40 adjacent to, but not projecting beyond, the edge of the panel as clearly shown in FIG. 3. The retaining portion 41) of each seam-locking strip 36 is thus spaced from the rear surface of its panel 12 and forms a recess 42 therewith.

A flat locking element or bar 44 (FIGS. 3 and 5) hav- 1.9 ing.a.thickness only slightly less than the width .of recesses42 betweentheretaining portions 46 of strips 36 and the rear surfaces of panels :12 .is slidably received Within said :recesses when the edges of the panelsabut. With locking :bars 4l4 thus; positioned, the abuttingedges of panels .12 are rigidly .held in alignment with each other and therefore make the seam .on the :front of the signboard almostunnoticeable. In:the seam-locking arrangement shown in the drawing, .a simple locking bar is employed, the opposite marginal portions of which form the locking portions of :this .member. It .will be understood,'*however, that locking barsv of different shapes may be employed to advantage within the scope .of the present invention, the essential-feature of this aspect of the invention being that the locking bar be removable and that its locking portions fit relatively snugly within the recesses '42 formed by the retaining portions 40 of the seam-locking members 36, so that the abutting edges of panels 12 can not'be bent out of registry .with each other.

'In order'to prevent locking bars-.44 from sliding .out the {lower side of the signboard ,10, the upper end of each of said bars may be bent overat right angles to form a tab 46 which engages either the upper ends of seam-locking strips 36 or theupper'edges of panels 12, depending onlwhich direction tab 46 points when the-bar 44 is inserted Within recess 42. Tab 46 also acts as a convenient means by which to grasp bar 44 when it is desired to slide it out of the seam-lock in order to unlock a pair of adjacent panels from each other.

The signboard is readily mounted on support posts 19 by any suitable means such as U-bolts 48 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) which embrace posts 19 and extend through holes in the lower flange 50 of Z-bar stringers 18. Nuts 52 are threaded on both ends of U-bolts 48 on the inner side of flange 50 and rigidly attach the assembled signboard at any desired position vertically on posts 19. Because of the relatively light weight of these signs, including the large ones, the signboard 10 can be easily lifted into position on posts 19 by means of fairly light hoisting equipment. With the signboard in position on the supporting posts and properly levelled, it is a simple matter for one or two men to tighten down mounting U-bolts 48 in order to secure the signboard in place on the supporting posts.

When assembling the signboard 10 shown in the drawings, panels 12, which may be furnished in stock widths of, for example, 18, 24, 30 and 36 inches or more so as to make up a sign of any desired length horizontally, are placed loosely side by side with locking bars 44 inserted in the seam locks. Initially bars 44 may, if desired, be inserted laterally into the recess 42 of one panel first and then the adjacent panel moved into position with bar 44 fitting laterally into the recess 42 at the abutting edge of the second panel. Another way of doing this is to first place the edges of the panels in abutment with each other and then to insert the locking bars 44 lengthwise into the recesses 42 between members 36 from the top edge of the signboard. It will be noted that this arrangement for locking the seamsbetween panels permits removal of any of the panels in the signboard, including the central ones, by simply sliding the locking bars on either side of the panel out lengthwise and removing the clamps 20 which fasten that particular panel to the stringers 18. This is made possible by the fact that both of the seamlocking strips 36 on each panel are located wholly Within the margins of the panel. Consequently, when the locking bar 44 is removed from between strips 36 on adjacent panels, the abutting edges of these panels are free to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panels, thus permitting one panel to be removed without disturbing the other.

With the panels 12 thus loosely placed together during the assembly of a sign, the stringers 18 are then fastened to ribs 14 by means of clamps 20 in the manner already described. :Clamps 20 are not tightened down permanently until the panels and stringers are aligned properly and until all the seams between panels are tight. When the nuts 34 of clamps 20 are then turned down tight, the signboard ltlbecomes a rigid unit with its. panels 12 securely .fixed against shifting with respect to each other so that the seams between panels can not open.

One of the important advantages of a signboard construction embodying the presentinvention lies in thefact that both .the'fabricationof the partsand theirassembly lend themselves well to large-scale or mass production methods. 'For example, inthe-fabrication ofpanels .12, it is not necessary to locateeither ribs Mor the seamslocking strips 36 within precise dimensional limitations on the backs of the sheet-metal panels. Strips 36 must not project'laterally beyond the abutting edges of panels .12, but can be positioned roughly-anywhere adjacent these edges so long as the locking bar 44, when inplace, .isprevented from escaping paststhe retaining portions 49. Similarly, ribs :14 can be spaced at relatively rough intervals along the back of each panel, with the approximate distance between ribs depending on the thickness of the sheet-metal usedlforvthe facetof the sign,.the width of eachpanel and the strength of the .ribsthemselves. The exact distance between ribs :14, however, isnot important becausethese membersdo not needtoline up withother components of the assembly.

Panels 12 of the present construction can therefore be very easily made up in large quantities and in stock sizes for use in constructing any desired size or shape of sign. As mentioned hereinbefore, in prior signboards of the sheet increment type, it has been necessary to fabricate special panels for each size and shape of design. But by using the ribbed panels, stringer members and seam-locking means of the present invention, it is no longer necessary to make up special panels for each sign because each of the panels thus constructed can be assembled with other panels of the same design to make up signs of any desired size. It is accordingly necessary only to select panels of widths which make up the specified over-all width of the sign and then to cut these panels to the desired height of the sign. Furthermore, if the specifications for a particular sign call for the sides of the sign to extend at an angle to the vertical, it is a simple matter to cut the end panels diagonally without in any way afiecting the assembly of the sign or its structural characteristics.

Since stringers 18 may be fastened at any point along each rib 14, the vertical location of each stringer on the ribs is not critical and can be adjusted as circumstances require. Furthermore, it is unnecessary in this arrangement to drill holes which must be accurately positioned with respect to other components for fastening the panels together. These and other factors greatly facilitate the assembly of the present signboard as compared with sheet increment signs of prior designs.

As has been mentioned hereinbefore, an important feature of the present invention resides in the particular arrangement of the rectangularly disposed ribs and stringers and the seam-locking means, in which the ribs 14 space the stringers 18 from the rear surface of panels 12, permitting the stringers to be fastened at any desired position longitudinally of ribs 14 While at the same time permitting subsequent disassembly of the seam-locking means without complete disassembly of the sign. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 3, ribs 14 extend parallel to each other with the stringers 1% extending transversely of ribs 14 and attachable thereto at any desired point. This arrangement eliminates any necessity for precisely locating and fitting any of the component parts of the assembly. Moreover, by spacing the stringers 18 from the rear surface of panels 12 by means of ribs 14, the removable locking bars 44 can be slid longitudinally out from between the seamlocking strips 36 without interference with any of the supporting members. This makes it possible to detach each panel individually from adjacent panels and to re place them without disturbing any of the rest of the sign assembly.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet increment sign assembly having a plurality of rectangular panels abutted edge-to-edge to form an indicia-bearing front face, a device of the character described for holding the abutting edges of said panels in alignment with each other comprising in combination:

elongated seam-locking strips rigidly mounted on the back side of each of said panels along abutting ed 'es thereof but Within the margins of said panels,

each of said seam-locking strips having a base portion along its edge remote from the edge of the panel, said strip being rigidly secured along said base portion to said panel,

each said seam-locking strips having a retaining portion along its other edge off-set rearWardly from said panel and extending parallel to the plane of the panel, said retaining portion and panel forming between them an elongated recess opening toward, and extending parallel to, the abutting edge of said panel, and

an elongated locking element having fiat locking portions slidably disposed Within said recesses formed by a pair of said seam-locking strips on adjacent panels in order to interconnect the abutting edges of said adjacent panels,

said elongated seam-locking strips and locking element each being continuous and extending substantially the full length of the seam between said adjacent panels,

the thickness of the locking portions of said locking element being only slightly less than the Width of said recesses measured perpendicular to the plane of said panels so that said locking element and said pair of seam-locl ing strips cooperate to lock the abutting edges of said panels substantially in alignment with each other.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein each of said locking elements is provided at one end with a laterally extending tab for limiting the longitudinal movement of said locking element in said recesses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,849 Speck Jan. 20, 1931 2,009,960 Johnson July 30, 1935 2,522,158 Bauers et al Sept. 12, 1950 2,806,308 Curell Sept. 17, 1957 2,882,564 Couse et al Apr. 21, 1959 2,942,366 Pfatf et al June 28, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,256,845 France Feb. 13, 1961 

1. IN A SHEET INCREMENT SIGN ASSEMBLY HAVING A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULAR PANELS ABUTTED EDGE-TO-EDGE TO FORM AN INDICIA-BEARING FRONT FACE, A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR HOLDING THE ABUTTING EDGES OF SAID PANELS IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: ELONGATED SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON THE BACK SIDE OF EACH OF SAID PANELS ALONG ABUTTING EDGES THEREOF BUT WITHIN THE MARGINS OF SAID PANELS, EACH OF SAID SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS HAVING A BASE PORTION ALONG ITS EDGE REMOTE FROM THE EDGE OF THE PANEL, SAID STRIP BEING RIGIDLY SECURED ALONG SAID BASE PORTION TO SAID PANEL, EACH SAID SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS HAVING A RETAINING PORTION ALONG ITS OTHER EDGE OFF-SET REARWARDLY FROM SAID PANEL AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE PANEL, SAID RETAINING PORTION AND PANEL FORMING BETWEEN THEM AN ELONGATED RECESS OPENING TOWARD, AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO, THE ABUTTING EDGE OF SAID PANEL, AND AN ELONGATED LOCKING ELEMENT HAVING FLAT LOCKING PORTIONS SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RECESS FORMED BY A PAIR OF SAID SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS ON ADJACENT PANELS IN ORDER TO INTERCONNECT THE ABUTTING EDGES OF SAID ADJACENT PANELS, SAID ELONGATED SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS AND LOCKING ELEMENT EACH BEING CONTINUOUS AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF THE SEAM BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT PANELS, THE THICKNESS OF THE LOCKING PORTIONS OF SAID LOCKING ELEMENT BEING ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID RECESSES MEASURED PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID PANELS SO THAT SAID LOCKING ELEMENT AND SAID PAIR OF SEAM-LOCKING STRIPS COOPERATE TO LOCK THE ABUTTING EDGES OF SAID PANELS SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER. 